Category Manager, Technology Sourcing

Okta•San Francisco, CA

10h•$90,000 - $137,500•Hybrid

About The Position

Okta’s Strategic Sourcing and Procurement team is seeking an experienced Category Manager to lead and co-lead global sourcing initiatives supporting its Technology organization. The role covers complex, high-value sourcing projects and contract negotiations across technology categories such as software, network, SaaS, IaaS, telephony, AI, and related direct or indirect requirements. The manager develops and executes procurement strategies, conducts strategic sourcing events, negotiates supplier terms, analyzes data, and works with senior stakeholders and sourcing colleagues to meet business needs, ensure compliance, create value, and deliver cost savings and avoidance. The role builds relationships with internal business partners and cross-functional teams to support negotiations, risk mitigation, and supplier management. It reports to the Sr. Manager, Strategic Sourcing – Technology. This is a hybrid office role requiring two days per week in the office, based in either Bellevue, Washington, or the San Francisco Bay Area. Travel may be required as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, or a related field.
3–5 years of experience in technology sourcing and procurement, including category management, strategic sourcing, consulting, vendor management, risk management, and/or procurement in a large, global company environment.
Strong understanding of technology contract law, commercial terms, and risk requirements.
Ability to distinguish high-stakes, irreversible commitments from fast, reversible decisions.
Ability to take ownership of multiple fast-moving projects and deliver in a high-tempo environment with tight deadlines.
Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently in a dynamic, fast-paced setting with general guidance from more senior roles.
Ability to travel as needed.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification such as CSCP, CPSM, or CPIM.
Experience supporting M&A-related sourcing activity, including contract novation and consolidation.
Proficiency in Workday Strategic Sourcing (Scout), Coupa, or Ironclad.

Responsibilities

Develop sourcing strategies for Technology categories, working with internal partners to identify risks and dependencies.
Lead and support strategic sourcing processes, including RFx events, supplier evaluations, commercial contract negotiations, and related projects.
Lead commercial-term negotiations for project-level agreements and partner with Legal on Master Service Agreements and related exhibits.
Identify and execute cost-optimization opportunities, improve service levels, drive efficiency, and mitigate risks in technology purchase transactions.
Build strategic relationships with senior business stakeholders and cross-functional teams, including Finance, Legal, Security, and Privacy, to align sourcing with business requirements and ensure policies and procedures are followed.
Lead supplier performance review meetings and measure supplier performance against contract SLAs and expectations; manage remediation as needed.
Collaborate with Finance, Legal, Security, Privacy, and other subject matter authorities to support process governance and compliance.
Conduct spend analytics to identify opportunities to streamline and consolidate category spend, and provide findings and recommendations to leadership.